May 19, 2006

Box Score

SAN MARCOS - Texas-San Antonio's Blake Brannon tossed his second complete-game shut out of the season, and Texas State stranded ten base runners as UTSA blanked Texas State 5-0 Friday at Bobcat Field.

Texas State (27-28, 19-10 SLC) suffered its first shut out of the year, while UTSA (36-18, 20-9) evened the series with its second-straight win in San Marcos, dating back to 2005.

The Roadrunners tossed their first run on the scoreboard in the first inning when Michael McKennon tripled home Marshal Davis, and UTSA took a 2-0 lead in the third when Zach Etheredge drew a bases-loaded walk that pushed McKennon across.

McKennon plated his second run of the game in the fifth, scoring on Etheredge's base hit to go up 3-0.

In the eighth inning, James Keithley reached on a lead-off single and was moved to second on an infield single by Ryan Saltzgaber. Bobcat reliever Chris Hill had Saltzgaber in a run-down between first and second, but Cody Merrell's throw skipped by second base, enabling Keithley to score and put UTSA on top 4-0.

The Roadrunners plated their final run in the ninth, as McKennon grabbed his fourth base hit, third run and second RBI of the game by belting a solo homer over the right-field wall.

McKennon finished 4-for-5 with three runs scored and two driven in, while Etheredge was 1-for-3 at the plate with two RBIs.

Brannon improved to 7-6 with the shut-out win, while Bobcat starter Dan Donaldson took the loss to fall to 4-5 on the season.

Texas State's loss dropped the Bobcats into a third-place tie with Lamar, who was run-ruled by league-champion McNeese State heading into the final day of the regular season. UTSA sits in second place after the Friday-night win.

The series and season concludes Saturday, as Texas State entertains UTSA on Senior Day at 3 p.m.